Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you

 

 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.  And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains.  And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.  When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.  And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I implore You by God that You do not torment me."  For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"  Then He asked him, "What is your name?"  And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."  Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.  

 

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.  So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them."  And at once Jesus gave them permission.  Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.  

 

So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country.  And they went out to see what it was that had happened.  Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.  And they were afraid.  And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.  Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.  

 

And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.  However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."  And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

 

- Mark 5:1-20 

 

Yesterday we read that on the same day that Jesus had taught the multitudes by the sea with parables, when evening had come, He said to the disciples, "Let us cross over to the other side."  Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was.  And other little boats were also with Him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.  And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"  And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?"  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

 

  Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.  My study Bible explains that the country of the Gadarenes was in Galilee, in an area with many Gentiles who lived among the Jews (see Matthew 4:15).  Gadara is the name of a city which was in the Decapolis, a Greek name meaning "ten cities."  We can look at a map and see its area was across the Sea of Galilee south of Capernaum.  As the area was mixed with Gentiles, and strong Greco-Roman influenced, it was not considered a genuinely Jewish land, although many Gentile residents had converted to Judaism during the Maccabean period.  Because many of the Jews in this region had been influenced by the Greek culture and customs, they were generally considered second-class citizens by Jews of Judea.  In today's reading, we can see some of the Gentile influence in the raising of swine, which was forbidden by the Law (Deuteronomy 14:8).

And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains.  And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.  When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.  And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I implore You by God that You do not torment me."  For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"  Then He asked him, "What is your name?"  And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."  Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.   Let us notice the setting:  this man tormented by demons lives apart from the city among the tombs, in complete disorder and untamed; crying out and cutting himself with stones.  Here the demons recognize Jesus as Son of the Most High God, and they fear torment just as they have tormented this man.  Although the malice of the demons is great, my study Bible says, they can do nothing against the will of God. 

 

 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.  So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them."  And at once Jesus gave them permission.  Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.   As we commented above, the swine are an indication of the Gentile presence in this region.  Some assume that those who raise them are Gentiles, but it is more likely that these are Jews who are engaged in a sinful occupation, as Christ forbade His disciples to go to the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5).  My study Bible comments that although the malice of the demons is great, they can do nothing against the will of God, and therefore can only enter the swine at Christ's command.  It says that the immediate destruction of the herd shows that the men had been protected by God's care; otherwise, they would have perished under the demonic influence.  It also reinforces that swineherding was not lawful for the Jews.  Most importantly, it shows the incomparable value of human beings, whose salvation is worth every sacrifice.

So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country.  And they went out to see what it was that had happened.  Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.  And they were afraid.  And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.  Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.   Those who fed the swine respond to the loss of the swine, and the sight of the healed man -- now sitting and clothed in his right mind -- by being afraid.  They plead with Jesus to depart from their region as they do not rejoice over the healing of the man, but are sorrowed at the loss of their swine.  They prefer things the way they were, and fear Christ's influence.

And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.  However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."  And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.  This man is not one of the chosen Twelve, but Christ makes a way for him, and a new life.  He is to go home to his friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for him, and how He had compassion on him. 

It's very important that we notice the difference between the unclean spirits and the nature of God as imaged in the Lord Jesus Christ.  The demons oppress and torment.  They beg Jesus not to be sent out of this country where they have a refuge beyond the reach of the influence of Jewish worship and the God of Israel.  The context is important here, because we see the vast difference between the God of compassion, whom Jesus tells the healed man to extol to his friends at home with his testimony -- and the oppression and enslavement of the demons, whose influence kept this man away from life, and captive among the tombs.  It is this contrast that is important for us to understand, for in the possessed man we also see what can be a common image on our streets of people enslaved to addiction of all kinds, a hopelessness where there is no kindness nor mercy nor compassion, where predators may pass freely among those who are for some reason incapacitated or helpless.  There is a correspondence, at least in effects and appearance, between the enslavement of addiction or the problems of mental illness, and the oppression of the demons who keep this man in complete disorder and unable to live in the place of his home.  We might keep in mind the image of influences that keep out our God of compassion and the "good things" that God will do for us, in favor of those whose lives ascribe to force and coercion and have no time for mercy.   What does not fit with the "law of the streets" is that it is the Lord of mercy and compassion who is the greater power and the stronger man here, who can command the demons and they have to obey Him, and of whom the demons are afraid.  They can use their malice on weak human beings, and malice may terrify us at the hands of others who are ruthless, but their malice cannot bind nor stop the power of Jesus Christ who is the Lord who gives us good things.  It puts us in mind of Christ's words at the Last Supper to His disciples:  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).  Let us remember that Jesus deliberately set sail through a chaotic storm into this hostile place of unlawfulness and demonic influence, seemingly just to rescue and save this man.  It tells us the truth, that to God a human life is worth every effort to save and to heal, and it is this that Christ teaches the disciples through this episode.  There will always be people who reject, who simply respond with fear to our faith, and there will also be those who are hostile and under the influence of a spirit that is antagonistic to the peace of Christ we seek in our faith.  Possibly we have experiences in our own lives in which we are surrounded by those who cannot share in our faith, even those who oppress us with hostility to it.  Sometimes this is not overt, but in a very real way becomes a spiritual problem for us to face.  But today's reading shows us that, nevertheless, the good things of God are present for us, even if everyone else does not embrace them; even when we are alone or abandoned in a deserted place where no one else cares.  Let us take to heart the new mission of the healed man, who may proclaim the good things the Lord has done for him, and how He had compassion on him, because we find such in our faith as well.

O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire

 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon-possessed."  But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cried out after us."  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"  But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

- Matthew 15:21-28

On Saturday, we read that the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."  He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- then he need not honor his father or mother.  Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites!  Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:  'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"  When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us." So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  Tyre and Sidon are coastal cities of the Gentile region north of Galilee called Phoenicia.  In our previous reading, scribes and Pharisees had come from Jerusalem, and begun to make inquiries of Jesus' ministry, and stating that His disciples were violating the tradition of the elders.  Jesus has gone to this region in response to temporarily withdraw from the scrutiny of the religious officials.

And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon-possessed."  My study bible points out for us the quality of character in this woman.  She tells Jesus, "Have mercy on me," but it is an expression of the depth of love she has for her daughter, whose sufferings she experiences as her own.

But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cried out after us."  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."   We may feel that this response indicates a surprising heartlessness in Jesus, but that would indeed be out of character.  First of all, we are to understand that His ministry before the Passion is first to the Jews.  However, many Church Fathers view the disciples' encouragement to "Send her away" as a request for Jesus to give her what she wants so that she will leave.  But Christ does not want her to leave, and instead His response draws her out further, revealing her faith and love.  Also, Jesus' response that He was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel makes clear the Jewish orientation of Matthew's Gospel, in addition to the title "Son of David" used by the woman in the previous verse.  Neither of these details are included in Mark's version (Mark 7:24-30).

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"  But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.  That the woman "worshiped" Christ (the word in Greek indicates that she knelt or became prostrate before Him, a position indicative of worship).  Her whole response indicates her humility; she accepts her place beneath the Jews (the chosen people of God), yet still desires a share in God's grace.  My study bible says that Christ's hesitancy was not a lack of compassion, but rather a conscious means of revealing the virtues of this woman -- both to the disciples and also for her own sake.  There is a great revelation of humility, love of truth, and deep faith in her overall response to Christ.  His ultimate acceptance of her is a clear indication of the gathering of the Gentiles into the Church after Pentecost, as my study bible puts it, "No longer as dogs, but as children who are invited to eat the bread of eternal life."  Our first concern as those who come from far outside the time and place of this reading might be about the insulting term used.  But there's an important cultural distinction between outside or inside dogs:  here the term is "little dogs" or puppies, inside dogs -- and the image of puppies begging at the household table is both softened and also apt for the "pestering" sense in which the disciples viewed her persistent pleas.

In a certain sense, there is a subtle message in today's reading about the Gentile believers who will come to Christ in the future:  in some sense, they have to work harder than the Jewish faithful who will follow Him.  They have more work to do to "catch up" and to "prove themselves."  This woman clearly knows about the Jewish faith and the expectation of the Messiah.   She knows about Jesus.  Even the fact that she deems her daughter to be "demon-possessed" shows her orientation to and understanding of the Jewish faith.  So all of these clues are there in the text teaching us about how far she has come already to be in Jesus' presence asking for help for her daughter -- and that is in addition to her personal character traits revealed here:  great love and mercy, persistence, and humility.  These are the qualities, the text seems to  hint to us, that Christ is looking for in His ministry -- but perhaps more particularly in those who will come to Him from the Gentiles.  We see similar qualities displayed by other Gentiles in the Gospels, perhaps notably in the centurion of Capernaum (see this earlier reading from Matthew).  The story seems to hint to us that not only are Gentiles capable of receiving Christ as Messiah, but they will also become "people of God," that is, those who accept Jewish spiritual history and also may embody the best qualities of the faithful.    Here, in some sense, is the story of the ministry that will go out to all the world:  none will be left out, but of those who will be His followers much is demanded.  Christ asks us all for more:  our faith may be tested, and we will need to have the qualities of this woman -- not only having an understanding of our faith and the tradition into which Christ is born incarnate and has come as Messiah, but also to draw out of us persistence, mercy, humility, tenacity, and love.  That deep desire for what He offers must be present.  His Church is to be born into the world not to suggest that we will all have an easy time of it, but rather to call us to something better, deeper, richer, and more powerful.  That is, something that asks much of us and calls us to the capacities a truly loving parent wishes to see fulfilled in their children.  And that is the faith we know, the preaching we hear from Jesus, the way we are called.  He asks of us to be all that we can be, the image and likeness He knows we carry within us.  The grace He gives is that grace that we need to follow through on this journey and realize His promise.  Do you hear that call?

Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table

 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon-possessed.  But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"  But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

- Matthew 15:21-28

In Saturday's reading, we read about an incident which occurred in Capernaum, Jesus' "headquarters" for His ministry.  While He was speaking to Pharisees and disciples of John the Baptist (see They put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved), behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live."  So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.  And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.  For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."  But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well."  And the woman was made well from that hour.  When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, "Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping."  And they ridiculed Him.  But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.  And the report of this went out into all that land.  In today's reading, the lectionary skips forward several chapters in Matthew, and we find ourselves in chapter 15.

 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  Of today's entire reading, my study bible notes that this is a story of ministry to a Gentile woman (Tyre and Sidon were Gentile towns on the coast north of Israel and Galilee).  It claims that today's passage is an illustration of the Jewish orientation of Matthew's gospel.  "This account is also mentioned in Mark 7:24-30, but with two major differences:  (1)  Matthew records Christ's words concerning the lost sheep of the house of Israel (v. 24), while Mark does not, and (2) Matthew records the woman using the title Son of David, a Jewish term for the Messiah, while Mark does not.  Christ went to the Gentile cities not to preach, but to withdraw from the faithless Pharisees.  This is confirmed in Mark's gospel, where we read that Christ 'wanted no one to know' He was there, and here, where Christ says that He was only sent to the house of Israel."  It seems to me that the fact that this reading follows yesterdays (from chapter 10) significantly teaches us about Jesus' treatment of outsiders; and moreover both of these outsiders (the woman made unclean by her bloodflow in Saturday's reading and this Canaanite woman who is a Gentile) are women and are healed through their own persistence in worship and faith.  It is through faith that their audacity to pursue Jesus comes, for different reasons and in different forms.

  And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is severely demon-possessed."  My study bible notes here that "this woman shows immeasurable love -- she so identifies with the sufferings of her daughter that she cries "Have mercy on me," for she sees her daughter's well-being as her own and her daughter's sufferings as her own."  Here then, is another example of the things of the Kingdom:  the capacity for love and mercy.

But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."  But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"  A note here tells us:  "Christ refuses to answer, not only because she is a Gentile and His ministry before His Passion is first to the Jews, but also to reveal this woman's profound faith and love.  Several of the Fathers see the disciples' request to send her away as an attempt to persuade Jesus to heal the daughter, as if to say, 'Give her what she wants so that she will leave.'  Christ's response indicates this interpretation is correct, for He again refuses to heal the daughter."

But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be to you as you desire."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.  A note says, "Having evoked this woman's love and persistent faith, Christ now reveals her humility.  She accepts her place beneath the Jews, who were the chosen people of God, yet still desires a share in God's grace.  Christ's hesitancy was not a lack of compassion, but a conscious means of revealing the virtues of this woman, both to the disciples and for her own sake.  Her ultimate acceptance by Christ also points to the gathering of the Gentiles into the Church after Pentecost, no longer as dogs, but as children who are invited to eat the bread of eternal life." 

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, the day we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the tongues of fire that appeared above each disciple, as they were all gathered in one place.  In the description of this event in Acts of the Apostles (2:1-31), we're told about a "multitude" of devout Jews, from "every nation under heaven," who were living in Jerusalem at this time.  When they heard the sound of the mighty wind that accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit, they came together, and were confused, "because every one heard them speak in their own language."  In today's reading, we begin with something that is possibly a kind of detail, but rather significant.  The illness for which this woman of Canaan comes to Jesus is demon possession.  Not only that, but we note that she tells Him that her daughter is "severely demon-possessed" (my emphasis).  In other words, this is clearly a spiritual problem, and the woman comes to Him as someone she knows can deal with it powerfully.  I think that the emphasis on this spiritual battle going on behind the scenes of this world, in the spiritual realm in which Jesus is clearly an immensely powerful force (see the reading of the Gergesene Demoniacs), gives us a certain perspective on these people who are in some way outsiders, like the woman with the bloodflow in Saturday's reading (making her, effectively, unclean and not considered fit for full participation in community) and also today's reading about the Canaanite woman.  When our focus is on this spiritual reality, in which we are somehow important agents, the site of some sort of battleground for forces we can't completely understand, then we come to see the absolute need for the whole of humanity to participate in this awareness of Christ, His message, His love, His help, and His power.  It is this truly profound perspective that makes us aware of just what we enter into when we fully seek to participate in the spiritual life, and how it creates unity among us.  On this Monday of Pentecost, we should think about this focus, and what the truly universal meaning and reality of the Holy Spirit offers to us, how it creates a picture of unity among mankind, where everyone is enlisted for this battle -- whether we know it or not.  Let us think of the profound ways the Holy Spirit can dwell in each one of us, the immense ways in which He is at work (for the Spirit is a Person of the Trinity), in each one of our lives, no matter where we are or what language we speak and understand.  This is the great challenge of the Church, to understand itself as a place of the dwelling of the Spirit, and to understand the Spirit's role in the whole of the Church as the unifier of all the parts of the Body of Christ as well as the One who gives us ultimate unity in endlessly creative diversity.  We are all a part of this battle beyond our conception and understanding; and yet, somehow, God loves us so that we are placed at the very center of importance of it all through the tremendous gift we're given.  In that unity, we each have our role to play, or not.  What connects us to the Source of the choice we're offered is our faith in that love.